Team India star pacer Mohammed Siraj opened up about his tough phase and the difficulties he faced during his early days. He shared how he pushed himself to attend practice after his U23 selection despite being hospitalised with dengue as well.
He also stated that he would have been removed from the team and he had to make a tough choice despite bad health. He again added how his father helped him get to practice from the hospital and about his determination not to let the opportunity slip from his hands at any cost.

“When my U-23 selection happened, I did not go to practice for two days. My name was in the team, but I had dengue. I was on glucose. I told them my health was not okay. But they told if I didn’t come to practice, they would remove me from the team. I was on an IV with zero energy. A day before, the doctor told me that we came at the right time, or I could have lost my life too. At 5:30 in the morning, I woke my dad up and told him what the situation was. I asked him to take me. He asked me if I was sure that I could play. I told him I would adjust, and my dad took me in his auto to practice. I went and bowled, batted, fielded, did everything. Later, when I went and gave the test, everything was normal,” he said. (via Sony Sports Network).

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“I love long spells, and it has become a habit for my body. We used to get ₹50 to play matches, and I used to keep on bowling for that. Even today, if I go and play some league match, I will have the same energy and the same intensity,” he again added.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj also shared his passion for the game and how he would play tirelessly even when he had not reached the highest level as well. He also revealed playing several tennis ball matches on a daily basis and how it naturally built his strength as well.

“I used to play 4-5 tennis ball matches a day. Your arm rotation becomes a lot quicker by playing tennis ball. Then you can keep playing continuously. It does not matter whether you need so much protein or whatever. Just have water and a samosa, and you can keep playing the whole day. My mother would be behind me, telling me to study and do something and become a big man and later not say that we educated only the elder brother and not you. I used to say it’s okay, I’ll figure it out. And today I am here,” Mohammed Siraj concluded.